Bad Little Girl by Frances Vick

"I'm not safe - you have to help me...'

Little Lorna Bell is from a notorious family on a run-down estate. Everyone thinks she is a piece of work. The school children call her thief. But Lorna's hair is matted, her shoes pinch her feet and school teacher Claire Penny can't help herself; some kids just need a bit more support, a bit more love than the rest.

As the bond between teacher and pupil grows stronger, Claire sees Lorna's bruises and digs to uncover the disturbing tale behind them. Heartbroken, Claire knows she has to act. She has to make Lorna safe.

Just when Claire thinks she has protected Lorna, a chance encounter brings enigmatic stranger Marianne Cairns, into their lives. Marianne seems generous and kind but something about her story just doesn't quite add up. Why does she feel so at home, and why is Lorna so suddenly so unsettled?

Claire has risked everything to save Lorna. But what can save Claire from the shocking truth? 

Claire is a single, "older" teacher, respected by some, snickered about by the "young" ones, and she knows that something just isn't right about how everyone treats Lorna Bell. Claire fully believes that all Lorna needs is someone to show they care.  Lorna isn't in Claire's classroom but she finds herself drawn to the child. Lorna is drawn to Miss Penny. Miss Penny smiles at her, Miss Penny doesn't raise her voice at her, and Miss Penny is pretty. 

Claire slowly starts noticing that Lorna's school uniform is showing it stains and could use a good washing, her shoes once too big are now pinching the child's feet, and many times the child is left outside long after all the other students have gone home. Claire's mother is the head administrator at another school across town.  Even she cautions Claire from getting too involved.  

As time moves on and Claire notices her bruises, the lack of care, the way the other teachers and kids seem to dislike and ignore Lorna she slowly takes notes in a notebook. When Claire finally thinks there is something the school can do to intervene she takes her concerns to her superiors but after conferences with Lorna's mother to the school, he decides there is nothing more that they can do. Lorna starts showing up, at her mother's home, did Claire tell her where her mother lived?  She doesn't think so.  When Claire has to take a leave of absence from the school to take care of her mother, Lorna comes around.

When her mother dies Claire extends her leave of absence. She remembers fondly the times her mother and she would go to her Aunt Tess cottage by the beach. As Claire is evaluating her life and what to do now, she extends the sublet to her place and tries to decide what to do with her aunt cottage.  Claire is finding herself at odds.

When Lorna shows up covered in a strong smelling liquid and hysterical, Claire knows she has to keep Lorna safe. She knows what she has to do and she has to do it quickly. They leave to go to the cottage by the beach. On the way there, Claire sees, on a television screen, something about a fire back home. 

Once at the beach, Lorna and Claire settle into their new life.  When they discover that the house fire was at Lorna's and that they still hadn't found all the bodies, with everyone assuming Lorna died in the fire, investigation still ongoing, the only survivor from the fire is in critical condition, the mom's boyfriend. Lorna and Claire are sure that they can pretend Lorna is Claire's daughter. Perfect??  Then they meet Marianne. Will Claire and Lorna trust her? Will life ever be normal again? 

As you read, the twists and turns just keep coming. I feel in love with Claire, she is the type of teacher we all dreamed of having and want for our own children.  At first, you see in Lorna what Claire sees but then...

Bad Little Girl By Frances Vick is a roller coaster ride for the reader. You get the rush of going downhill with every layer peeled away.  This is one you won't want to miss.

Out in the shelves February 22, 2017, you will want to get your copy. 

advanced copy by NetGalley, bookouture